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First place finisher – Bernard Lagat – “I was actually talking to my wife last night and I told her, ‘You know what? It would be so great to go to Albuquerque and get the two of us on the world’s team. Then I said the same thing to my coach today in the hotel. I was thinking we would have a very good team and we would medal. That’s what I believe.” 

On leading the entire the race
“Which I normally don’t do. It was a different territory. I give Galen a lot of props for what he has always done in college: taking the lead until the end and winning it. I realize it’s not an easy thing. Today I noticed that. As long as you’re comfortable in the front you can do it, so I got into a comfortable zone while I was listening to my splits from my coach and Mark Wetmore. I was determined to push it hard, which wasn’t hard enough until Galen came and helped me in the last 1K.” 

Fourth place finisher – Galen Rupp – “It went well. We had a good, honest pace. My plan was to relax as much as possible. When it was time to make my move, make my move. It was slower than I would have liked it to be, so I went with a 1,000 to go. We (Lagat and Rupp) still got it (the American record). 

"I wasn’t too worried about it. I think it slowed down a little after the rabbit stepped off, but we still kept it going and it didn’t change my plan at all, which was to stay relaxed and go when it was time to make my move. 

“It ended up being a real kickers’ race, but I’m real happy with where I’m at right now. My strength is better than it’s ever been. I’m four second better than last year. I’m real happy with my training is going right now and the way it’s going. I’m planning for USATF and World Indoors, so there’s still time to make adjustments. 

“It’s been a little of a rough week. I slept 13 hours last night and took a nap this afternoon. I was ready to go. If I wasn’t, I would have run the mile, but I felt ready to go. I’m happy with the way I ran.